In a move that’s been a long time coming, the United States Treasury is finally getting rid of paper checks. On March 25, 2025, President Trump signed an executive order mandating that all federal payments and collections go digital by the end of September. While the rest of the world has been making payments electronically for years—if not decades—this shift marks a long-overdue modernization for the U.S. government’s financial processes.
A Welcome (If Late) Change for Treasury Professionals
For corporate treasurers, this is great news. The U.S. has long been an outlier, relying on outdated systems that complicate international cash management. Switching to electronic payments means less time spent dealing with slow, cumbersome paper processes. It streamlines cash flow, speeds up reconciliation, and makes it easier to forecast and manage liquidity—especially for global organizations that need consistency across all their operations.
A Few Hurdles to Clear
That said, the road ahead isn’t without challenges. For starters, the federal government will need to make sure their data is in order. Incomplete or outdated records could throw a wrench into the transition. Then there’s the issue of accessibility: not everyone has easy access to electronic payment methods. Exceptions are in place for certain individuals and situations, but there’s still work to do to ensure no one gets left behind.
Looking Forward
Once the dust settles, this shift could have a big impact on how corporate treasurers operate. By finally aligning with modern payment practices, the U.S. government will set a standard that benefits everyone—faster processing, better visibility, and a more efficient payment ecosystem overall. At Treasury Masterminds, we’ve always been about finding practical solutions to treasury challenges, and this is one change that can’t happen soon enough.